District Schools Open Short Staffed

September 4, 2025

Allison Sayer - CRR Staff

The Copper River School District (CRSD) School Board held their first meeting of the current school year August 26. Much of the meeting business was routine, authorizing documents that must be updated or submitted annually. The board also discussed staffing issues. Administrative reports detailed both new programs and programs that will come to an end. 

The district has five teaching positions that have not been filled. An additional teaching position may need to be created in Special Education, which would bring that number to six. Two long term substitutes have been hired to fill some of the gap going into the school year. 

This will be the final year for the Migrant Education Program, which provides additional assistance to students who qualify due to family movement. 

The Close Up program, which brings a group of high school students to Washington, DC to learn about our federal government, will not occur this year. 

Earlier this month, 16 students had the opportunity to learn welding skills in a mobile teaching trailer provided by the Alaska Ironworkers Training Program. Principal Dolgner reported this “went really well.” The program was funded by the Alaskans Building Alaska Initiative.

Superintendent Laville reported CRSD is in discussion with the Alaska Gateway and Delta Junction/Fort Greeley schools about a future Career and Technical Education (CTE) interchange. 

On the academic front, students can expect to do more writing in the upcoming school year. During the work session prior to the board meeting, Superintendent Laville stated students will have frequent “speed writing” practice and create writing portfolios, in addition to other skill building exercises. 

The work session was dedicated to the results of AK Star tests from last spring. The results from the test, which was new this year, were not consistent with MAP test results. It might not be fruitful to delve deeply into the isolated numbers for each grade. Broadly, the test did suggest students in all grades could use more practice writing.

Teachers will also receive instruction and coaching in the upcoming year. Grant funded coaching for teachers will be provided by Curriculum Associates staff, who will visit district schools. Superintendent Laville will also use the text “Better than Carrots or Sticks” to teach restorative practices to teachers and paraprofessional staff.  

The next school board meeting will be October 7 in Kenny Lake.